For many students, studying abroad is the first real leap into the unknown. New country, new language, new systems, new rules. Between visas, accommodation, and cultural adjustment, it’s easy to feel that the “adventure” of international education starts with a long list of question marks.
At the University of Milan (UniMI), that first step is not something students are expected to take alone.
A peer-to-peer compass: the Welcome Desk
UniMI’s Welcome Desk is designed with a simple but powerful idea in mind: sometimes, the people who can help you most are those who have stood exactly where you are now.
Run in close connection with the university’s International Student Offices, the Welcome Desk is a peer-to-peer support service where students help other students navigate the key aspects of life and study in Milan.
From visa procedures to enrolment steps, from understanding scholarships and housing options, the Welcome Desk acts as a human bridge between information and experience.
It’s practical, yes, but it’s also reassuring. Because the first “welcome” you receive is not just institutional: it’s personal.
Welcome Day: a great hall, and a greater sense of belonging
UniMI opens the doors of its historic Great Hall for a tradition that has become a milestone in many students’ journeys: Welcome Day for international freshmen.
This year, the event brought together over 2,000 new international students. Offices, services and student associations took the stage to introduce themselves, answer questions, and put faces and voices to the structures that will support students throughout their time at UniMI.
But Welcome Day is more than a presentation. It includes a guided tour of the main campus and a convivial aperitivo, turning an institutional moment into an opportunity for connection. It is often the day when strangers become classmates, and a large university starts to feel like a community.
Buddies Pilot Programme
Launched within the Master’s Degree in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology – Pharmacogenomics and Precision Therapeutics, the Buddies initiative pairs international students with motivated peers who act as friendly tutors and guides. From study tips to navigating campus life, your Buddy helps you feel at home from day one. The programme will soon expand to all English‑taught Master’s programmes at the University of Milan.
Campus tours: a first glimpse of life as a UniMI student
The university’s commitment to international openness begins even earlier, with campus tours for groups of prospective students, from high schools and universities in countries such as Greece, Turkey, the USA, Brazil, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Denmark and beyond.
These visits can include:
- a historical and artistic tour of UniMI’s main building and courtyard
- a presentation of degree programmes, scholarships and services dedicated to international students, with a Q&A session
- the chance, when possible, to sit in on a live lecture, getting a real taste of what it means to be a UniMI student
The tours are free of charge and often enriched with small university gadgets and informational materials, a thoughtful touch that turns curiosity into something more concrete.
For international students, choosing a university is about more than rankings and course lists. It’s about finding a place that will support them as people, not just as names on a register.
If you’re considering studying in Italy, exploring the University of Milan’s international services, Welcome Desk and campus visit opportunities is a powerful way to see whether this could be the place where your next chapter truly begins.